2011 Annual

Report

www.share-elsalvador.org

“In the countryside we never used condi-ments like they do now. We used salt, lemons, and herbs. Now people use ketchup and these things are expensive.” Recalls Santana, a member of the Board of Directors of the Mujeres Ganaderas Cooperative that started almost 20 years ago, right after the signing of the Peace Accords. Over the past two decades the Cooperative has grown in size and influence, as has the processed, imported food Santana was referencing. This cooperative, located in the plains of San Vicente, was started when five women pooled their savings to begin

providing micro-loans for other women in their community to buy dairy cows. In 2001, SHARE supported the Cooperative as they gained recognition from the Salvadoran Government and purchased land. “Before we had nothing, now we have a place to gather, discuss our

lives... ” Now, over 223 women have received micro - loans through the Mujeres Ganaderas. With offices, land, and 12 veterinarians the Cooperative has changed the lives of thousands and is creating a market for locally produce dairy products and beef.

“Before we had nothing, now we have a place to gather, discuss our lives and the difficulties we are having with the animals,” said Santana. While they have a lot to be proud of, the Board of Directors of the Cooperative are proudest that they are able to teach their daughters how to organize their community, respect themselves and know that they are as capable as any man. Cooperatives like the Mujeres Ganaderas are not only building leaders, providing food for their communities and creating jobs, they are also creating a culture and an economy based around locally produce food.

Mujeres Ganaderas: Across Generations

Dear Friends of SHARE El Salvador, Over the past 30 years SHARE has celebrated many victories and mourned losses, and 2011 was no exception. Among our many accomplishments SHARE and our counter-parts celebrated 25 scholarship students’ graduations from high schools and universi-ties, provided over 50 micro-loans for women’s economic initiatives, trained 55 farmers in organic, sustainable practices, contributed over $30,000 to flood relief efforts, and taught over 800 women about the rights afforded to them through the newly enacted Life Free of Violence Against Women laws. While there are many reasons to celebrate, there is also cause to mourn. In October over five feet of rain fell on El Salvador in less than ten days, destroying more than 165 million pounds of basic grains. Communities across the country watched as a year’s worth of hard work was washed away before their eyes in record shattering floods. SHARE continues to walk with these communities as they rebuild, replant, and find creative ways to prepare for future disasters. As we work with communities in El Salvador to rebuild we are also working with the Sal-vadoran community in the U.S. to call for Permanent Residency for the 270,000 Central Americans living in immigration limbo with Temporary Protective Status. SHARE is or-ganizing this national campaign in coalition with over 20 other organizations across the nation. We invite you to join this exciting campaign and call for the rights of Salvadorans everywhere. Thank you for your support. In Solidarity Jose Artiga Nicolas Avelar Executive Director Board Chair

Celebrating 30 years of Solidarity US Office Staff José Artiga

Executive Director Sarah Berg

Development Coordinator Martha A. Dueñas

Program and Operations Coordinator El Salvador Office Staff Isabel Hernandez

Field Office Director Bethany Loberg

Sistering Accompaniment Coordinator A partnership between SHARE and The Vol-unteer Missionary Movement makes this

position possible. Marly Cardona Moz Solidarity Education Coordinator Marisol González

Administrative and Project Assistant

Without

the loyal support of individuals, foundations, religious orders, grassroots partners, and so many more,

SHARE’s work in El Salvador would not be possible. Thank you to everyone who walked in solidarity

The Northwest School Partners Across Borders Paulist Center St. Andrews by the Bay St. Edward’s Parish St. Elizabeth Ann Seton St. John Francis Regis St. Mary of the Assumption St. Patrick’s Church St. Sebastian Church University Lutheran Chapel Visitation Parish Board of Directors Nicolas Avelar Locke Schultz Jaeger Martin Eduardo Martinez Francisco Lopez Rev. Jeff Johnson Angelica Garcia Rivera Jean Stockan Jose Artiga Natalia Rodriguez Alexandra Aquino Fike Guadalupe Mejia In Memoriam Saul Solorzano Father Dean Brackley Dickens Warfield Chris Saudek Faye Butler

Anonymous Andrew Bein and Isabella Blackman Carolyn and John Boitnott Judith Beuchner Mary Catherine Bunting Bill and Mary Carry John Hoffmeyer and Janet Corpus Emmanuel Crabbe Barbara DiTomasso Daniel Eiben Evan Fales and Mary Eagle Richard Friedberg Richard Geidel and Nancy Braus Bill and Bunny Griffitts Collier Hands Marion and Franklin Kellogg Paul Kendall and Sharon Rives Paul and Tracy Kleine Don and Diane Lippincott Christopher Lloyd Tim Muth Dan and Sally Natchek Robert Peick Patricia Safavi Karen Scott and Mario Perez Michael Simon Helga Tarver

Florence Wagner and Judith Broder Lucy Williams and Faith Perry Margaret and Lee Zeigler

Foundations and Religious Orders Calvert Foundation Giving Fund Chalfonte Foundation Christus Health Dominican Sisters of Springfield Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose Dominican Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Houston Francis Fernandez and Carmen Flores Fund Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration MAZON New World Foundation Racine Dominican Mission Fund Share Our Strength Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth

crops that are healthier and sturdier. Roberto Melendez has been a leader in implementing these new techniques and teaching them to others in his community, Melendez’ passion and support has inspired others in his community to begin their own gardens. Now 70 families have started their own gardens and are explaining the importance of growing native varieties and best planting techniques to their neighbors. With the leadership of REDES, Melendez and other San Simon Community members created a disaster preparation plan for the floods, hurricanes and

Big changes are happening in the small community of San Simon on the banks of the Bajo Lempa River. The people of San Simon have been working closely with organizers from SHARE’s partnering organization, REDES, to implement new planting techniques that will prevent erosion, develop a seed bank and organize seed exchanges with local communities to plant a variety of

earthquakes that wreck havoc on this small village every few years. Unfortunately, this October their plan was put to the test. Over five feet of rain fell on commu-nities in the Bajo Lempa, producing record-shattering floods and washing away the entire crop for 2011. Thanks to the organization of the community the emergency plan was successfully implemented and no lives were lost.

In Appreciation

Addressing Climate Change in San Simon

Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Ministry Fund Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community Sisters of St. Francis, Mount St. Francis Sisters of the Holy Cross St. Francis Lutheran Church Endowment Fund Rachael & Ben Vaughan Foundation Titcomb Foundation University Lutheran Chapel En-dowment Fund Grassroots Partners Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church Christ the King Catholic Church Cretin-Derham Hall High Detroit Sister Community/ St. John Fisher Eastern Michigan University Friends of El Salvador Mid-Michigan/ Faith Weavers Georgetown University Good Shepard Parish (KS) Good Shepard Parish (WI) Greater Milwaukee Synod Holy Spirit Parish Maryland Presbyterian Church

Youth lead the way to Gender Equality

Over the past year nine young women in rural communities surrounding Suchitoto have continued their high school educations because of the support they received through their participation in SHARE’s Scholarship and Leadership Development Program. Through their participation in this program these young women received financial support for uniforms, school fees and materials, trainings on women’s rights, sex and gender, and participated in discussion groups about these topics through out the year. After receiving trainings these young women facilitated discussion groups and workshops on women’s rights and health in their communities.

SHARE staff from the US office had the opportunity to meet with these young women in October, we witnessed how this program has changed the lives of the young women in the program and the lives of other young women in the community. One such young women is Veraly, a youth leader, scholarship recipient, and an active member in El Salvador’s only all female, rural batucada (drumline). Veraly is the youngest of three, her mother focused on putting her two sons through school and when the time came for Veraly

In 2011 SHARE El Salvador’s Scholarship and Leadership Development Program:

•Supported 20 community leaders in becoming young professionals through university

scholarships. Two students graduated in 2011.

•Supported over 60 active, organized youth in their formal and informal education, through high school scholarships and workshops on human rights, culture of peace, historical memory, organic

farming, and other issues of interest to young people. •Made the high school graduation of 23 young leaders possible! In a country where only 15% of the

rural population reaches high school, this is a major achievement for young people and their families.

to enter high school there was no money left. Now Veraly is a leader in her community, she uses the knowledge she gained from her workshops to teach other young women in her community about reproductive health and women’s rights.

“I thank God that I received this scholarship and these trainings. One day after I led a training a woman came to me and said if she had known these things she wouldn’t have had her kid so young. Many girls in San Rafael

never have a talk and are pregnant at 13,” Another scholarship recipient, Anaris, went on to explain that they have been the victims of many rumors and criticism in their communities for their involvement in these programs. “They say that we are feminists and want to be better than the men, that we’re sexually loose, that we’re crazy” While these brave young women have been forced to deal with backlash from some in their communities, other community members have embraced what they are teaching. In fact, there was so much interest from high school students that the school is starting to incorporate sexual education into their curriculum thanks the leadership of these nine young women. Five of these young women will be graduating in 2012, and we are excited to see where their futures take them and to continue celebrating their successes together.

SHARE had the joy of hosting 164 wonderful delegates in 2011. With delegates ranging in age from 13 to 74 and many on their first trip to El Salvador it was an intergenerational and eye opening experience for many. Over half of SHARE delegates in 2011 are 25 years old or younger and SHARE is excited to build up the next generation of the solidarity movement. This year delegates from Northwest School and St. Sebastian’s Parish enjoyed the company of Salvadoran community members during their time in San Salvador, allowing for continual learning and laughter. One evening at reflection, youth from St. Sebastian's Parish asked Jaime, a nineteen-year old from Teosinte, Chalatenango what he could say in English.

Jaime shook his head, responding, “No, casi nada, hardly anything. Solo

lo más esencial, just the most essen-tial: I love you!” and he threw his arms open toward the whole group, a grin lighting his face.

Accompanying Salvadorans as they resisted mining deeply moved many delegates. During visits to Radio Victoria, The Cabañas Environmental Committee, and ASIC, delegates heard Salvadorans speak passionately about caring for the earth and their communities, and learned that these Salvadorans face death threats for speaking out against mining.

Annette Becker from Good Shepherd commented, “I think this experience affected me so much as I have been passionate about the environment and our moral obligation to be good stewards of the earth for many years. I do this willingly and with conviction but never – ever – ever with any concern that my involvement will put myself or my loved ones in danger.” Visiting and staying in rural communities proved the greatest highlight of all – sharing in Salvadorans´ daily lives and forming deep relationships with their host communities; relationships that span generations, continents, and decades.

Delegates and Communities forge lasting relationships

Financials

“The world became a

smaller place. Instead of

'the people' in El

Salvador, I now have my

brothers and sisters in El

Salvador. I am part of a

family I was unaware of

previously.”

SHARE 2011 Income and Expenditures

Income

Foundations and Religious Orders $90,432.52 Delegation Revenue $62,250

Grassroots Partners $65,984.67

Individuals $257,998.85

Other Income $4,585.01

Total Income $481,251.05 Expenditures

Programs $375,055.68

Supporting Services $58,894.52

Fundraising $35,528.22

Total Expenditures $469,478.42

Individuals

Foundations and Religious Orders

Grassroots

Delegation Revenue

80%

12.5%

7.5% Fundraising

Programs

Supporting Services

53.6%

18.8%

12.9%

13.7%

1%

Other

2425 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

2011 Annual Report

“I have realized that the U.S. has a huge impact on the rest of the world. Who I vote for and what resources I use impact what goes on in other countries. I feel compelled to do something to let other people in my community know how much of an effect we have.” -2011 Youth Delegate from Cretin-Durham Hall

Address

SHARE’s Mission: SHARE strengthens solidarity with and among the Salvadoran people in

El Salvador and the United States in the struggle for

economic sustainability, justice, and human and civil

rights.

The following core values guide our work:

• Women’s Empowerment

• Citizen Participation

• Leadership Development

• Environmental Sustainability

Have questions? Want to learn more?

We would love to hear from you.

Phone: (510) 848-8487

Email: info@share-elsalvador.org

www.share-elsalvador.org

“[The Cooperative] has helped very much, now when there is an emergency we have something to sell, there is never a lack of food or a cup of milk. We even have extra to help our neighbors when they need it.” - Maria Leticia of the Mujeres Ganaderas Cooperative